A city academic has called for more support for research as he is named to a prestigious international post.

WHEN Professor Rory O’Connor started his research into suicide 20 years ago, he hadn’t been personally affected by it.

Since then, he’s lost two close friends and is even more passionate about increasing our understanding of suicide and decreasing the stigma that still plagues the subject and affects funding for further study.

The leader of Glasgow University’s Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory has now been elected president of the International Academy of Suicide Research, the first UK expert elevated to the post.

But he says there is a great deal more work needed in the field, which has been chronically underfunded.

He said: “Sometimes, I do get caught up in it – it’s tough. Every day I’m doing some research on

suicide, but I have a good team and I have good support from colleagues and friends. What helps me continue is that this is such an important bit of research to do.

“It’s still stigmatised. That contributes to part of the problem, historically, of why it’s not been funded. For too long, we saw it as a psychiatric problem, but it’s also social. It doesn’t occur in a vacuum.

“There is absolutely a need to talk about suicide, otherwise the stigma is maintained. Compared with other major causes of death like heart disease or stroke, research into suicide is chronically under-funded. It is an urgent priority if we are to develop effective treatments to combat suicide and self-harm in the future.”

The suicide rate in Scotland is down 18 per cent in the past decade, but remains higher than in England. Prof O’Connor says it is a key focus of research to find out whether that is caused by the nation’s relationship with alcohol, by some people living more isolated lives, or by deprivation.

“We are making progress, absolutely,” he said. “Twenty years ago, when I started working in the field, the level of attention at the government level and the international level was much less prioritised. But we have a lot further to go. It will take generations to address a complex set of factors. Deprivation and inequality associated with deprivation are major factors.”

An estimated one million people die every year by suicide across the world – the equivalent of one every 40 seconds, and more than by murder and war combined. For every suicide, there are six to 10 people affected, for whom there are support groups in Glasgow and Scotland, explained Prof O’Connor.

He said that just because someone might be depressed does not mean they have considered suicide, but urged Glaswegians to be braver and ask the difficult question of loved ones.

Prof O’Connor said: “If you’re worried about someone being suicidal, don’t be frightened about asking the question, ‘Are you thinking about killing yourself?’ That’s the best form of risk assessment. You’re being a much better friend – it’s a difficult question to ask, but please ask it. There is no evidence that asking about it plants the idea.

“If someone is feeling suicidal, one of the characteristics is feeling trapped. They can think that nothing will ever change. But there is loads of evidence that things do get better. Please seek help.

“Encourage someone to seek help. It’s a sign of strength to ask someone about their mental health. You would be amazed at the response.”

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NHS24 have signed an anti-stigma pledge on mental ill health this week.

Working with the See Me campaign and others, the helpline will raise awareness about mental health, a subject that 40 per cent of Scots find difficult to talk about.

John Turner, of NHS24, said: “It is vitally important that people experiencing mental health problems feel they can ask for support. This is an important issue for us all, and NHS24. We will be working closely with See me to promote and support their campaign.”

Dr Stella Clark, of Mental Health Services at NHS24, added: “The social stigma experienced by people with mental health problems can make the road to recovery harder, deny opportunities for employment and have a negative effect on personal relationships. Being able to speak openly to friends, family and colleagues can aid recovery from mental ill-health.”

Further information and resources about looking after your mental health can be found through the NHS Inform Mental Health and Wellbeing Zone at: www.nhsinform.co.uk/mentalhealth

Last month, the Scottish Government launched their suicide prevention strategy, following on from the Choose Life campaign that started in 2002. The plan commits the government to continuing reducing the number of suicides by responding to people in distress, talking about suicide, improving the NHS response to suicide, developing more research and supporting change and improvement.

The Samaritans said they welcomed the strategy that reaffirms prevention “is not the business of government but of all of us”.

A spokesman said: “The recognition of the importance of providing a compassionate response to people in distress is one we wholeheartedly endorse.”

If you are having emotional difficulties, please speak to someone in confidence by calling Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 or the Samaritans in Glasgow on 0141 248 4488 or 08457 90 90 90. If you are finding it difficult to talk about your problems you can write to jo@samaritans.org, where a trained Samaritans volunteer will do their best to get back to you within 12 hours.